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Laurent's Galf Shade Polarimeter

Physics

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22 views2 pages

Laurent's Galf Shade Polarimeter

Physics

Uploaded by

Neha
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Polarimeter

Home Polarimeter
It is a device which is used to measure the optical rotation produced by an optically active
substance. By measuring the angle e the specific rotation of an optically active substance
can be determined.

Two types of polarimeters are generally used in the laboratory now a days:
(a) Laurent's Half Shade Polarimeter
(b) Biquartz Polarimeter

6.13.1 Laurent's Half Shade Polarimeter

Construction: It consists of a monochromatic source S which is placed at focal point of a


convex lens L. Just after the convex lens there is a Nicol Prism P which acts as a polariser. H
is a half shade device which divides the field of polarised light emerging out of the Nicol P
into two halves generally of unequal brightness. T is a glass tube in which optically active
solution is filled. The light after passing through T is allowed to fall on the analyzing Nicol
Awhich can be rotated about the axis of the tube. The rotation of analyser can be
measured with the help of a scale C. Laurent's half shade polarimeter is shown in Figure
6.22.

Optcaly actve
9olufon

FIGURE 6.22

Working: In order to understand the need of a half shade device, let us suppose that half
shade device is not present. The position of the analyzer is so adjusted that the field of
view is dark when tube is empty. The position of the analyzer is noted on circular scale.
Now the tube is filled with optically active solution and it is set in its proper position. The
optically active solution rotates the plane of polarization of the light emerging out of the
polariser P by some angle. So the light is transmitted by analyzer A and the field of view of
telescope becomes bright. Now the analyzer is rotated by a finite angle so that the field of
view of telescope again become dark. This will happen only when the analyzer is rotated by
the same angle by which plane of polarization of light is rotated by optically active
solution.
The position of analyzer is again noted. The difference of the two readings will give you
angle of rotation of plane of polarization (8).

A
difficulty is faced in the above procedure that when analyzer is rotated for the total
darkness, then it is attained gradually and hence it is difficult to find the exact position
correctly for which complete darkness is obtained.

To overcome above difficulty half shade device is introduced between polariser P and
glass tube T.

Half Shade Device


It consist of two semicircular plates ACB and ADC. One half ACB is made of glass while
other half is made of quartz. Both the halves are cemented together. The quartz is cut
parallel to the optic axis. Thickness of the quartz is selected in such a way that it
introduces a path difference of 'A/2 between ordinary and extraordinary ray. The
thickness of the glass is selected in such a way that it absorbs the same amount of light as
is absorbed by quartz half.

Gass
Quatz

Let us consider that the vibration of polarisation is along OP. On


passing through the glass
half the vibrations remain along OP. But on passing through
quartz half these vibrations
will split into 0- and £-components. The
f-components are parallel to the optic axis while
O- component is perpendicular to optic axis. The
and hence an emergence 0-component will be along OD
O-component travels faster in quartz
instead of along OC. Thus
components OA and O0 will combine to form a resultant vibration along OQ
same angle with optic axis as OP. Now if the Principal plane of the which makes
parallel to OP then the light will pass through glass half analyzing Nicol is
be brighter than quartz half or we can say unobstructed. Hence glass half will
that glass half will be bright and the quartz half
will be dark. Similarly if principal plane of
will be bright and glass half will be dark.
analyzing Nicol is parallel to OQ then quartz half

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